Read Psalm 130

“If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, That You may be feared.” (Psalm 130:3–4)

What a thought to imagine all of my sins spread out before the Lord. I would be overwhelmed at the number! If every transgression were a grain of sand, my sins would make the dunes of the Sahara seem as altogether insignificant. The record of my sins are too long. Not a book, but libraries of selfishness and pride are the record against me!

Truly, as the Psalmist says, if the LORD should take note of our iniquities, who could stand? The answer is a blatant, "No one!" If God were not patient and compassionate, we would be wiped out altogether. If God were quick to execute His wrath, we would be an ash heap quicker than the blink of an eye. But the prophet Jeremiah reminds us:

“Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22–23)

And likewise, the psalmist in our reading reminds us, "there is forgiveness with the Lord.”

Notice the certainty of the psalmist’s words. There is forgiveness. It is not followed by acts of penance or works of debt. God issues forgiveness freely and without cost. Through His love He chooses to keep no record of wrong against us. Furthermore, He ratified the eradication of our sin in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” (Psalm 103:12)

Beloved, if the psalmist could so confidently rest in the forgiveness of God prior to the cross, how much more should you, who are saved according to the cross? If the psalmist understood the abounding grace of God in the Old Covenant, how much more should you understand the abounding grace of God in Christ Jesus for you in the New Covenant?

Repeat those words out loud to yourself: There is forgiveness with the Lord!

Each and every day you can rely on His forgiveness. Though your sins be as scarlet, He will wash them white as snow (see Isaiah 1:18). The Christian who refuses to rest in God's forgiveness is a miserable one indeed! But the Christian who washes fully in the gracious forgiveness of God, I say, is a free and joyful child of God!

Do not hesitate any longer. When sin has bound you up, overtaken you and stained you, run quickly to the Lord. Do not delay! Let nothing get in your way. But run to Him, and He will abundantly pardon.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)